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Mr. McClelland claims that his one marathon time meets or approximates the Oprah Line and he's claiming OPRAH ruined the marathon experience for him?
Was it the fact that Oprah made it popular for less talented runners to attempt complete the marathon that led him to this conclusion? Or the fact that the Oprah Line completely disabused him of his fantasy that he was an above-average athlete?
And I had to laugh when I read this:
The American runners of that era were propelled by a "double wave" of self-abnegating philosophies, theorizes Tom Derderian, who trained with Rodgers and Salazar at the Greater Boston Track Club. They were "heirs both to the warrior mentality of their World War II fathers and the new consciousness of the 60s and 70s,"
How absolutely absurd. Running long distances is a feat of athleticism and will, no doubt about it. Having recently given up casual jogging after 13 years, i can appreciate it. But the true "warriors" in sport include Greco-Roman wrestlers, rugby players, triathletes and football players.
Line up in a 3-point stance and bang heads for 60 minutes and I might call you an athletic "warrior."
Run a long distance and call yourself a warrior and you're just a joke.
Unless you want to confer "warrior" status on Oprah too, Leonidas.
I hope you are able to laugh at yourself as much as we're laughing at you, champ.
Next thing you know, Ryan Leaf is going to bemoan flag football ruining the elite status of the NFL.
